Improvement in ballasting vessels



' ter ofthe bottom of the vessel.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE..

JULIUS A. BIDWELL, OF TOLEDO,`OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN BALLASTING VESSELS.

` Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 172,907, dated February 1, 1876; application led November 11, 1 873.

To all whom it'may concern:

Be it 1known that I, JULIUs A. BTDWELL, of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain Improvements in Ballasting Vessels, of which the following is a specification:

My invention consists in providing vessels, particularly those of light draft, and Where the greatest speed is desirable, with a ballast composed of Quicksilver, and contained in compartments, and placed in the hold of a vessel or anywhere amidships, as may be deemed most expedient. l

In the drawing a top vew of the body of a Vessel is presented, i'n which A represents the interior; B B B B B, compartments, into which vessels c c c c c, containing mercury, are placed. These I show as situated in the bottom of the boat, and arranged longitudinally, three compartments being placed parallel about the cen- This position mobility desirable, does not percolate, causing disagreeable dampness. Nor does it congeal, except at a very low temperature. Economy of space is also secured from the superior specific gravity of quicksilver. This in yachts or small vessels is desirable.

It is believed that in racingv upon the Water, as incompetition among yachts for supremacy, ny invention will be found especially ad- 

